Chapter 5: Ordinary Day.
Renier stopped in front of the house door, shopping bags hanging from his hands, his clothes completely soaked. The rain had managed to penetrate every layer of fabric, and he could still feel the echo of that night in the plaza — the conversation with Kyouka, and the strange warmth that mysterious girl had left in his chest.
Before he could take a step, he was met by a sharp and piercing look. Rikyu was there, arms crossed, staring at him with an almost maternal expression — which, somehow, made him more embarrassed than any scolding could have.
“So? What took you so long?” she asked, her voice calm and sharp, as if she already knew the answer but wanted to hear it from him. “It’s past midnight, Renier.”
He tried to play it cool with a mischievous grin. “Midnight’s not that late, come on…”
But she just rolled her eyes, letting out a resigned sigh, like someone who had been dealing with reckless people for ages. “You’ll end up sick like this. Soaked to the bone.” Rikyu stepped closer and took the bags from his hands with a delicate yet firm gesture, making his fingers relax instantly. To his surprise, the bags vanished like a magic trick.
He raised an eyebrow. “What did you just do?”
Rikyu smiled with that mischievous look he knew all too well. “I control everything in this house. I can move anything, rearrange the rooms, fix whatever I want — all to my liking.” She gave him a gentle shove and pointed toward the bathroom. “Now go take off those clothes and get a hot shower before you catch something.”
Renier hesitated for a moment but eventually gave in to Rikyu’s care. The feeling of being expected, of returning to a home where someone cared, was rare for him — and he felt a quiet sense of gratitude as the hot water washed away the cold of that night…
Morning came, and Renier stood by the front door, trying to stifle a yawn while adjusting his backpack. He was dressed in his school uniform — black blazer with a white tie — and with his hair still slightly messy, he looked like the fatigue of the previous night still clung to him. But even so, it gave him a sort of effortless charm.
Rikyu was waiting by the door, holding what looked like a small wrapped snack. With a proud smile, she placed the package in his backpack, along with an umbrella.
“I made you a snack. And I figured it was best to pack an umbrella, just in case the rain decides to come back.”
Renier let out a soft chuckle. “You don’t have to worry. I checked the weather forecast online — it’s gonna be clear all day.”
Rikyu made a skeptical face, scrunching her nose in an adorably annoyed way. “I don’t trust that so-called ‘Internet.’ Every time I try to use that computer, it asks me if I’m a robot! And then it won’t let me do anything! I may not be human, but does that make me less than a robot now?”
Renier couldn’t help but laugh at her indignation, imagining a Spirit facing tech frustrations. “When I get back from school, I promise I’ll teach you how to use it.”
Rikyu nodded with a satisfied smile, adjusting his backpack again like he was a little kid who needed everything just right. “I’ll be waiting. And try to enjoy your first day — make some friends... and have a great day.”
Renier nodded, feeling a familiar warmth he hadn’t felt in a long time. As he walked away, he looked back and saw her standing at the door, watching him go. It was a new feeling for him — to have someone waiting for him, taking care of the little things and saying goodbye — just like he used to do with his grandfather. It warmed his heart, even if it was a feeling he still wasn’t entirely used to.
✦—✵☽✧☾✵—✦
Renier arrived at school and, as expected, the day seemed like any other. He stood at the front of the class, feeling slightly out of place, while the teacher — a woman with long, well-kept blonde hair tied with a butterfly ribbon — adjusted her glasses. With a cordial smile, she had Renier step even closer to the front, which made him feel a little uncomfortable.
As he noticed the whispers rising around him, he realized his presence had a strong effect on people. His appearance drew curious looks, and noticeably, the teacher’s face showed a faint blush as she looked at him.
Renier sighed internally. This always happened when he was around people. There was something about his looks that drew attention, though he didn’t fully understand why.
The teacher then greeted him with a smile and, with a gentle gesture, introduced him to the class. “This is Renier Kanemoto, everyone. If you’d like, you can introduce yourself and tell us a little about you.”
Renier glanced quickly at the class — and his eyes landed on a familiar figure: Kyouka. She was seated at the back, watching him with a serious expression, but to his surprise, a small smile appeared on her face, followed by a casual wink.
That made Renier blush slightly, realizing she still knew how to mess with him. He returned the gesture with a subtle smile.
Among the other students, most looked pretty standard — neat uniforms and curious stares. But one girl stood out to Renier. She had long blonde hair tied to the side in a gyaru style, and her bright blue eyes sparkled. Using his Eyes of Revelation, Renier sensed an aura radiating from her — very different from Kyouka’s. This girl was full of energy and was definitely watching him closely.
Finally, Renier decided to speak. “I’m not really used to school life… I spent most of my time traveling the world with my grandfather. So, if I come off a little different from what you’re used to, I ask for your patience. I hope I can make some friends here.”
Whispers from the girls were inevitable — their voices and gazes gave away their admiration for the new student. The boys, meanwhile, while noticing his presence, took the opportunity to throw out some jabs, muttering things like “He thinks he’s all that,” or “Who does this guy think he is?”
Renier, however, wasn’t fazed. Instead, a proud smile curled on his lips. The confidence and pride he felt in his appearance only grew with comments like those.
The teacher, noticing the chatter, clapped her hands firmly to regain attention. “Renier, there are a few empty seats. Feel free to choose whichever one you find most comfortable.”
Renier nodded in thanks, and as he scanned the room again, he noticed the seat next to Kyouka was empty, which caught his attention. Curiously, he realized she sat by the window, and the seat next to her always seemed to be empty. Maybe, he thought, Kyouka was the kind of girl others avoided.
Without letting it sway him, Renier walked to the seat beside her. This caused a small commotion among the students. Quick whispers and speculation filled the room: “Is he gonna die?” and “Will she kill him?” some said.
Renier chuckled softly at the whispers. As he sat beside Kyouka, she was already eyeing him from the corner of her eye. With a low voice, he turned to her and teasingly said:
“The Black Rose really has some sharp thorns, huh?”
Kyouka let out a genuine laugh — something rare — and replied in a calm voice with a hint of challenge.
“If you want, I can show you just how sharp they can be.”
Their laughter didn’t go unnoticed. The teacher looked surprised, and the other students murmured among themselves. Kyouka, who rarely spoke to anyone — let alone smiled like that — seemed to have changed her demeanor. Everyone wondered what was so special about Renier that made Kyouka act this way.
Continue…
